From an early age he was groomed to be a Thembu tribal chief's councillor like his father. However as he matured, he has become ever more inclusive as to the people he serves - In spite of prejudice between Xhosa, Zulu and other tribes, he worked as a lawyer and activist in Johannesburg for all the black people of South Africa, leader of the nation, and now as an elder statesman.

Africans of my generation - and even today - generally have both a Western and and African name. As is the custom, on his first day of schooling, at age seven, Rolihlahla was given the name of Nelson by the teacher. No one knowns why this robust name was chosen for him.

As is Xhosa tradition, he was initiated as a man and circumcised at age 16.

He is regarded as one of the greatest men of the 20th century, though many consider the larger part of his greatness to be the result of him being the central icon of a larger movement, not as a result of his intrinsic greatness.